Window regulator mechanism



Oct. 22, 1968 J. PICKLES WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANI SM Filed Aug. 15, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JO EPH PICKLES ATTORN YS Oct. 22, 1968 J. PICKLES WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1966 FIG.5

FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

United States Patent "cc 3,406,594 WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Joseph Pickles, Dearborn, Mich., assignor to Ferro Manufacturing Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 572,265 Claims. (Cl. 74-801) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A gear reducer particularly for use in a window regulator comprising a mounting bracket having an enlarged opening provided with teeth forming an internal gear, a pair of plates abutting and slidingly engaging opposite sides of the mounting plate, and a shaft extending through all of said plates. The shaft has an eccentric portion intermediate the pair of plates mounting a gear in mesh with the internal gear and having a few less teeth. The pair of plates are rigidly interconnected by pins extending through separate openings in the gear so that rotation and gyration of the gear results in rotation of the pair of plates.

It is an object of the present invention to provide window regulator mechanism including special gearing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide special gearing intended primarily for use in window regulators but adapted for use in other environments.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide window regulator mechanism characterized in attainment of desired mechanical advantage, rigidity of parts, compactness, and reliability in operation.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a window regulator, with parts broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 2-2, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view of a modified window regulator.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view through another embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a section on the line 5-5, FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of the parts shown assembled in FIGURE 4.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 there is shown a cylindrical casing 10 in which is received a fiat electric motor 11 of the kind sometimes referred to as a pancake motor. The motor 11 is provided with a central output shaft 12 extending laterally from one side thereof.

Mounted on a side of the motor are three shafts 14 which extend parallel to the output shaft 12 and have the outer ends thereof interconnected by a plate 16. The motor output shaft 12 is provided with teeth as illustrated, and it meshes with three gears 18 which are mounted for rotation on the shafts 14. Each of the gears 18 is provided with a reduced cylindrical hub 20 the outer surface of which is eccentric with respect to the inner cylindrical surface 22.

Supported on the eccentric hubs 20 is a gear plate 22 which is externally toothed as best seen in FIGURE 2.

Mounted at the open side of the casing 10 is a combined cover plate and actuating arm 24, the member having a generally circular portion 26 constituting a cover plate for the casing 10 and a lateral extension 28 which constitutes the operating arm for applying force to window regulator mechanism of usual type. Fixedly secured to the inner surface of the circular portion 26 of the combined cover plate and arm 24 is a ring 30 provided with teeth forming an internal gear 32.

3,406,594 Patented Oct. 22, 1968 The number of teeth on the internal gear 32 is very slightly in excess of the number of teeth provided on the gear plate 22, the number of teeth however being such that the gear plate 22 may be oscillated without rotation in a circular orbit without interference between its teeth and the teeth of the internal gear 32.

In operation, rotation of the motor drives the gears 18 in rotation, thus effecting equal uniform rotation of the eccentric hubs 20, and thus effecting oscillation of the gear plate 22 in its plane in an orbit determined by the eccentricity of the hubs 20. It will of course be apparent that the hubs 20 are initially positioned with the major dimension of eccentricity located at the same side of the shafts 14. This orbital oscillation of the gear plate 22 will rotate the gear 32, the ring on which the gear is formed, and the combined cover plate and actuating arm 24 through an angular distance dependent upon the difference between the number of teeth on the gear plate 22 and in the internal gear 32 and the total number of teeth in the internal gear 32.

In FIGURE 3 there is illustrated a somewhat different embodiment of the invention in which the motor is shown at 34 having an output shaft 36 in mesh with three gears 38 each of which is mounted on a shaft 40 extending laterally from one side of the motor 34. The gears 38 are provided with eccentric hubs 42 which together mount an externally toothed gear plate 44 for oscillation in its own plane but without rotation about its own axis. The externally toothed gear plate 44 is in mesh with an internal gear 46 here illustrated as including a mounting plate portion 48 apertured as indicated at 50 for the reception of an extension of the motor drive shaft 52. The drive shaft 52 includes a further reduced portion 54 received in an opening in a cover plate 56 suitably fixed to the casing 58. It also includes an enlarged portion 60 which bears against the inner surface of the mounting plate portion 48. The drive shaft 52 at its opposite ends has a reduced portion 62 received in an opening in the casing 58.

The cover 56 is slotted as indicated at 64 and the plate 48 has a lateral extension 66 which forms the operating arm of the window regulator mechanism.

While the embodiments of the invention shown in FIGURES l and 3 have the power supplied to the window regulator mechanism from an electric motor 11 or 34, it will of course be readily apparent that the actual gearing for effecting rotation of the operating arm of the window regulator might in either case be supplied by a manually operable crank.

Referring now to FIGURES 4-6 there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention. In this case a mounting plate 70 is provided which is laterally dished as indicated at 72 and provided with an internal gear 74 formed by teeth provided in a radially inwardly directed flange portion 75 thereof.

An operating shaft 76 is provided having a knurled portion 78 for connection to an operating crank or the like. The shaft 76 also has coaxial enlarged portions 80 and 82 and a coaxial reduced portion 84. Intermediate the reduced portion 84 and the enlarged portion 82 is an eccentric cylindrical portion 86.

Mounted for rotation about the axis of the shaft 76 is a sandwich indicated generally at 88 composed of an inner plate 90 having a stepped sleeve portion 92 providing bearing surfaces cooperating with the enlarged shaft portions 80 and S2. The plate 90 is provided with axially extending flange portions 94 which interfit with the inner surfaces of the axially dished portion 72 of the mounting plate 70. Connected to the inner plate 90 by rivets 96 is an outer plate and actuating arm 98 having an opening 100 for the reception of the reduced shaft portion 84. The periphery of the outer plate 98 overlies the inturned radially inwardly extending flanges of the mounting plate 70 on which the teeth 74 are formed.

Intermediate the inner plate 90 and the outer plate and actuating arm 98 is a gear plate 102 which as best seen in FIGURE 5 is provided with external gear teeth 104 and which is further provided with four relatively large openings 106 through which the rivets 96 extend. The gear plate 102 is provided with a central circular opening 108 which receives and interfits with the eccentric shaft portion 86.

Upon rotation of the shaft 76 an oscillating motion is imparted by the eccentric shaft portion 86 to the gear plate 102. Except for the interaction between the teeth of the gear plate 102 and the internal teeth 74 on the mounting plate 70, the inner and outer plates 90 and 98 tend to remain stationary but are permitted to rotate about the axis of the shaft 76. However, each rotation of the shaft 76 causes the gear plate 102 to effect a complete circular oscillation about the axis of the shaft 76. This oscillation is permitted by the substantial clearance between the openings 106 and the rivets 96. The number of gear teeth 104 at the periphery of the gear plate 102 is very slightly less than the number of internal teeth 74 provided on the flange 75. Thus, one rotation of the shaft 76 will rotate the sandwich including the actuating arm and plate 98 through an are determined by the difference between the number of teeth 104 and teeth 74, and the total number of teeth 74.

The foregoing construction permits an operation in which a relatively great mechanical advantage or speed reduction is obtained between the shaft 76 and the operating arm 98. At the same time, a very compact structure is provided in which all of the operating parts are strongly intersupported.

While the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 4-6 is shown as intended for operation by a crank attached to the serrated portion 78 of the shaft, it will of course be apparent that the construction may if desired be equally well operated by an electric motor.

In the illustrated embodiments of the present invention, the gear which is oscillated in a circular orbit is the externally toothed gear. It will of course be apparent that the relationship of parts may be reversed and the oscillated gear may be the internal gear. Further, in this case in which the internal gear is the oscillated gear, either the internal or the external gear may be prevented from rotating.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved window regulator mechanism in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is my invention is:

1. A gear reducer comprising a mounting plate having an opening provided with internal gear teeth, a pair of plates abutting and slidingly engaging opposite sides of said mounting plate, rigid connecting elements extending through the opening in said mounting plate rigidly interconnecting said pair of plates, a shaft extending through at least one of said pair of plates and journaled thereby for rotation about its axis, said shaft having an eccentric portion intermediate said pair of plates, an external gear having a few less teeth than are provided in the opening in said mounting plate journaled on said eccentric shaft portion in mesh with the internal gear teeth provided at the opening in said mounting plate, said gear having a thickness equal to that of said mounting plate and being slidably supported between said pair of plates, said gear having openings located radially outwardly from the eccentric shaft portion through which said rigid connecting elements extend, said elements having substantial clearance in said openings to provide for gyration of said gear as a result of rotation of said shaft and the meshed relationship between said gear and gear teeth.

2. A gear reducer as defined in claim 1 in which one of said pair of plates has its central portion shaped to provide a generally tubular central extension in which said shaft is journaled.

3. A gear reducer as defined in claim 2, the other of said pair of plates having an opening in which said shaft is journaled.

4. A gear reducer as defined in claim 1 in which one of said pair of plates has its central portion shaped to pro vide a generally tubular central extension in which said shaft is journaled, and a peripheral axially extending circular flange, said mounting plate being dished to provide a recess at one side thereof in which the circular flange of said one plate is journaled.

5. A gear reducer as defined in claim 1 in which one of said pair of plates has its central portion shaped to provide a generally tubular central extension in which said shaft is journaled, one of said pair of plates being of circular shape, said mounting plate being dished to receive and pilot said one plate for rotation about the axis of said shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 72,792 12/1867 Browne 74805 1,673,838 6/1928 Mackenzie 74--805 2,609,713 9/1952 Martin et al. 74-805 2,863,335 12/1958 Miller 74-80l 3,013,447 12/1961 Hils et al. 74--805 3,145,585 8/1964 Brown 74-805 3,190,149 6/1965 Gorfin 74-805 ARTHUR T. MCKEON, Primary Examiner. 

